Courage and Compassion

T. M. Moore, resident theologian at the Chuck Colson Center for Christian worldview, has written an article that we, as Christian soldiers would do well to read. It is titled, "The Courage to Oppose."

In the article, Moore explains something that true believers have known since Jesus taught his disciples:

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. ²¹ But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ He who hates Me hates My Father also. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. ²⁵ But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ (John 15:18-25).

The fact is that the world hates to be convicted of its sin. It hated it when Jesus did it, and it hates it when we shine our light on the darkness of this world.

Nevertheless, as soldiers in the Lord's army, we are called to

go...and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20)

I think, perhaps, the most important passage in Moore's article is this one:

But let’s make sure to observe how Paul did this – not in brash, loud, spectacular, or violent manner, but patiently, reasonably, dialoging and discussing the claims of the Kingdom against the false views of unbelief, inviting those with whom he spoke to consider the consistency and congruency of the Christian worldview against the backdrop of the inadequacy of their own. Paul argued gently and reverently with those he sought to persuade, and, if his conversation sounded like judgment, it was at least seasoned with grace and therefore more likely than not to be heard and pondered (2 Tim. 2:24-26; Col. 4:6).

How does the world view the modern church? Are we seen as the purveyors of a message of love and hope, or are we seen as narrow-minded, bigoted, uncaring fanatics who are not for anything but against everything? Where does such a viewpoint come from? Could it be, Sergeant, that we forgot in our fervor to spread the Word that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost and not to belittle them with self-righteous judgment? Remember, when you are sharing John 3:16:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life,

to be constrained by John 3:17:

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

As Paul wrote to his protege, Timothy:

But you, O man of God...pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11-12, emphasis added)

We have the Truth on our side. We are fighting this war against the powers of darkness not for victory, but from victory.

Satan was defeated by our Commander-in-Chief on a hill called Golgotha, overlooking a garbage dump. He left us behind to mop up after the victory, to minister to those who have been wounded in the battle for their souls. Let us therefore, conduct ourselves with the courage of the Marine Corps and the compassion of the Medical Corps.